New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-15
THE SENTENCE OF SHARP.

Though Sharp's counsel succeeded late yes
terday afternoon, 10y an application to Jndge
Potter, in saving their client from Sing Sing
prison for few days, it is not at al likely
that any efforts of theirs can keep HIM out Of
q convict's cell much longer Judge Barrett
is an able, thorough and impartial Judge
He conducted the trial with unfaihng regard
for Justice. fairness and the law, sid there is
no probability that the result viii be overrulcd
by the higher courts. The best possible ad
vice for Jacob Sharp Is that he abandon all
deusivc hopes and prepare himself with resig-
nation and humility Tor the four years In
prison to which he has been sentenced His
vastly expensive troop of lawyers, who were
able to do nothing fer him in the courtroom
will, of course, keen up The show of struggle
in his behalf, so long as he Is willing to pay
their bills. But he ought to know by this
time how little trust he can put In their
assurances They expressed 10 him before the
trial fae utmost confidence in his defence, and
promised him an acquittal or at the worst
6isagreenas.1t of the jury. But their case
broke down completely almost rs soon as II
was opened The collapse was so oycrwhebn-
ing as to be contemplate, and the jury found
q verdict al guilty without a moments longer
delay than was necessary for each juror to
give his opinion. If he had not been misled
by these blind guides. Sharp would long ago
have icined Keenan,. Moloney and the other
fugitive thieves ip Canada. lie should be de-
eeiyed by them no longer. He must serve
out his years in prison.
Judse Raaretts sentence will be approved
by all Just and reasonable men, 1t Is sewers
10 oil ha
make use Of corrupt means TO carry out their
schemes, and severe enough to make 1t certain
that Sharp viii never again be potent in
1uepce for evil IL this community If he
survives his Imprisonment with inc stain and
disgrace OF his crimes brought 50 plainly into
al mems view, he can never be power In
the lebbies of legislation again. On the other
band, the sentence cannot be considered cSces
sive. The Judges language in exposing the
enermity of Sharp's nlisdeeds not a whit
too strong He did not exaggeratc the mans
yillany and haseness, though he used words
that would have eaten their WAY like vithol
10 the soul of any criminal less stolid and
less hardened lie showed clearly that there
was no good reason for abating the full rigor
Of the law in this case except the prisoners
in health and extreme age. But ten years
would undoubtedly have proved life sentence
to Sharp with his seventy years, and black as
thc offence l. the law did not contemplate
imprisonm for life for bribery and breach
of trust. Judge Barrett struck a just mean
At last Sharp must be convinced that plenty
Of money and energy supported by absolute
lack Of conscience cannot always be trusted to
carry man safely TO the close of crimina
career in this city. Even though he spend
hundred thousand dollars on lawyers of the
highest responsibility who fool him with false
promises, he cannot escape the penalty OF his
wrong ling. Ii takes a long time and great
issue to gst The people of this community
thoroughly in earnest. But when they make
I'D their minds that the laws aro to he re-
spected and obeycd nothing can Withstand
them So William NJ. Tweed found 10 his
cost and this is now clear TO Jacob Sharp, IL
il never was before. The cnrse OF
Justice has been well served by
that model Of Judicial integrity. that
terror of evil doors. Judge Barrett; by the
sturdy, resolute, though deliberate District
Attorney; and by his adroit, resoucefm and
brilliant assistant, Mr.. Nicoll AL these have
been faithful to the public interest at time
when the full measure Of fidelity has meant
resistance to political and
other influences Of uncommon force. They
merit the amplest gr.titude from their fellow 4